 Tony
Moreno
"Grand & Failing" CD
KEEP
Recordings
Genres: folk, instrumental
KEEP Recordings
PO Box 18972
Tucson AZ 85731
Nov 29 - Dec 5 2004 |
Grand & Failing is the second solo offering from Norfolk
& Western member Tony Moreno, following a successful,
limited-to-50-copies debut CDR entitled Leftovers
From A Wake. Continuing in the trend of combining
historical themes with folk-based melodies, this album manages to
outdo its predecessor, making for an extraordinarily touching
collection of Americana-influenced soundscapes. Tony Moreno's focus here is on the guitar part, which gives
this album its warm, cozy atmosphere. Though there are
occasional vocals ("Not Quite Right," "Driving By
Moonlight"), the majority of the album is instrumental - with
spoken word and field recordings filling out the rest of the
space. The album begins with an interview about someone's
migration from Indiana to California way back when, in the vein of GYBE!
(remember the Coney Island speech?) - though it has a stronger
Americana element to it. Ultimately, guitars come into the
equation, accompanying the spoken part. This formula is used a
few times on Grand & Failing ("Honeyhole Cliff,"
"Tuesday Failing"), giving the album context and
establishing an interesting storytelling tone. The majority of
the disc is simply instrumental guitar folk (think Fahey, but
less experimental), though hushed singing sometimes enters into the
equation.
Over the duration of these fourteen all-too-short tracks, Grand &
Failing manages to be both low-key and touching. This album
can be something you play in the background, or something you devote all
your attention to. Either way, it's a success.
88%
[Note: My advance copy of this album had a bit of a transition
problem - instead of the songs naturally fading into one another,
there were brief pauses in between them. This is a common albeit
avoidable problem, and was likely cleared up for the disc's final
pressing.]
Matt Shimmer [Vitals:
14 tracks, distributed by the
label, released 2004] |
